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TELLO PLAN

Tello Talk & Text Review

The cheapest standing monthly rate we track: unlimited calls and texts, no term, no data.

Reviewed by Jean Gilles·How we rank
7.0 OUR SCORE Tello

At a Glance

Price$8/mo, billed monthly
NetworkT-Mobile 5G + 4G LTE
Talk & textUnlimited minutes and unlimited texts
DataNone
International callingFree calls to 60+ countries on any calling plan
HotspotNot applicable
TermNone: upgrade or downgrade free at any time
ActivationNo activation fee
Taxes & feesExtra: amount not published

Our Score

Value for money9.2
Network & speed7.5
Hotspot & features3.5
Customer experience7.8

Pricing: eight dollars, monthly

<strong>$8 a month, billed monthly.</strong> Tello labels its introductory rates explicitly, the Max plan is advertised as $15 for three months then $25, and this tier carries no such label, so $8 is the standing price rather than a promotion.

Taxes and fees are extra. Tello's own FAQ acknowledges that bills run above the plan price but does not publish the amount, so treat $8 as a floor.

What You Get, and What You Don't

What we like
✓Cheapest standing monthly rate we track at $8, with no term to commit to
✓Free calls to more than 60 countries included
✓Change or cancel the plan any time at no charge
✓No activation fee and no contract
✓Free Wi-Fi calling
Where it has limits
✕No data at all, which breaks MMS: see below
✕Taxes and fees are extra and Tello does not publish the amount
✕Deprioritized behind T-Mobile's own customers during congestion
✕Online only: no retail support

Tello Talk & Text vs. Tello Starter

The comparison that decides this plan is Tello's own Starter tier, two dollars above it.

FeatureTello Talk & TextTello Starter
Price$8/mo$10/mo
DataNone2GB
MMSCannot send or receiveWorks
HotspotNone2GB
Talk & textUnlimitedUnlimited
TermNoneNone

Choose it if

✓The handset can't use data meaningfully: a flip phone or feature phone
✓It's a child's first phone and the absence of data is the point
✓It's a backup line that lives in a drawer or a glovebox
✓You call internationally and want the 60-country calling included
✓You want the lowest possible monthly bill with no term

Skip it if

✕Anyone will send you a photo, a video, an emoji or a link: those are MMS
✕You navigate, use app-based two-factor, or message outside SMS
✕You want retail support
✕Two dollars more matters less to you than the functions it buys

Final Verdict

7.0/10 · Tello Talk & Text

The cheapest genuinely monthly plan we track, and the one to buy if a phone only needs to make calls. The catch is not the price but the absence of data: without it the line cannot send or receive MMS, and any message carrying a picture, video, emoji or link is an MMS. For a child's first phone that may be the point. For a grandparent expecting photos it is the wrong plan, and Starter at $10 fixes it.

Consider instead: Tello Starter. Two dollars more restores MMS, adds 2GB of data and 2GB of hotspot. For most people this is the better buy and the reason not to take the $8 plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send picture messages on Tello's Talk & Text plan?

Not reliably. Picture messages, emoji-heavy texts and links are sent as MMS, which needs data. With no data on this plan, those messages won't go through unless you're on Wi-Fi.

What network does Tello use?

T-Mobile's 5G and 4G LTE network. Coverage is the same as T-Mobile's map, but as a prepaid MVNO your data can be slower than T-Mobile's own customers when a tower is busy.

Are taxes included in Tello's price?

No. Tello adds taxes, which vary by location, and a small cost-recovery fee of up to 30 cents a month. There is no activation fee and no contract.

Can I change my Tello plan later?

Yes, at any time and for free. You can move up or down a tier, or build your own mix of minutes and data, with no penalty.

Sources
  1. Tello plan page and price label
  2. Our scoring method: How we rank

Prices change often; confirm with the carrier before you order.

Tello Talk & Text
7.0/10 · $8/mo
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